Skiing teaching device

ABSTRACT

A skiing teaching device having a base slidably supporting a platform for transverse movement. A pair of side foot rests are slidable on a pair of parallel rods which are pivotally interconnected at their ends to each other and to the ends of a spring support which in turn is rotatably supported intermediate its ends from a turntable on the platform. The spring has a depending pin operating in an arcuate slot concentric with the turntable and the pin is slidable within a slot in a control arm pivoted at one end on a fixed axis to the sliding platform and guided at its other end by an adjustable pin mounted on the base and controlling the length of the platform travel relative to the base.

United States Patent [.151 3,704,885 Raciunas 1 Dec. 5, 1972 [54] SKIING TEACHING DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Kazys Raciunas, 1404 49th Ct., 675,742 7/1952 Great Britain ..272/57 B Cicero, 11]. 60650 Primary Examiner-Harland S. Skogquist [22] Flled 1970 Att0mey-John J. Kowalik [21] AppLNol: 85,970

[-57] ABSTRACT 52] u.s. c1. ..272/57B z lf g fii f'g fg {g side foot rests are slidable on a pair of parallel rods 0 can a which are pivotally interconnected at their ends to each other and to the ends of a spring support which [56] References Clted in'turn isrotatably supported intermediate its ends from a turntable on the platform. The spring has a de- UNITED STATES PATENTS; pending pin operating in an arcuate slot concentric 2,573,808 11/1951 Ravoire .1. ..272/57 B with the turntable and the P is Slidable Within a Slot 3,021,137 2/1962 Palmer ..272/s7 B in a P'P Pivoted a fixed axis to 3,441,271 4/1969 Palacios ..272/57 A x Shdmg platfmm and gu'ded other end 3 46] 857 8/1969 Poulin 272/57 B x 1 adjustable pin mounted on the base and controlling the length of the platform travel relative to the base. 3,547,434 12/1970 Ossenkop ..272/57B 3,582,066 6/1971 Keryluk ..272/57 B a 16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 47 l I=I 5 9 O 3 Zsl 9 1 1.- q If I :wc' x =7 r z fi w M $0 v p tha W J2 l Wit; $0 0 i pp oa I MMW -65 I 28 2 1 155: I 7 ouzo'o'n 6 'lo't'o'oo'oozvt 66 is $131! 46 1 2 i eew o W H 4 6 43 ll i I f s 53 InvenIor A'IIornev SHEET 1 [IF 3 PAIENTEDHEB 19 Kozys Rociunos By PATENTEDnEc 51972 SHEET 2 [IF 3 IV f////////// Inventor Kozys Rociunas Ahorney SKIING TEACHING DEVICE l DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Prior art devices for simulating skiing actions are in general riot effective since they do not accurately simu-. late nor coordinate the various necessary movements of actual skiing conditions. Many such prior devices in fact inhibit variousmovements that one encounters in actual skiing so that the pupil develops bad habits.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a skiing simulator and more particularly to a'novel device which obtains actual skiing conditions.

A further object is to provide a novel device for teaching skiing turns in a natural attitude.

Another objectis to provide a device which requires the pupil to unweigh to release a brake whereby to permit turning and at the same time permits the application of a turning force consisting of reverse shoulder, counter-rotation, French projection circular," and heel push; that is putting the weight on the downhill ski pedal, and which also permits the advance of an uphill ski and which further forces the skier to edge uphill.

A still further object is to provide a unit in which the turningpower will occur due tovarious well-known techniques of body movements, i.e., reverse shoulder,

.counter rotation and rotation of the Old Aralberger School, etc.

A more specific object is to provide a device wherein the turning movements are controled by a brake which is released by unweighting movements of the user.

Another objectis to provide a device which is ad justable to control thelength of a turn to simulate close linked turns as in slalom(vedeln) or wide turns as used in downhill or giant slalom races.

The invention also comprehends a device in which the foot pedals are biased to initial centered position after the turn is completed.

These and other objects and advantages inherent in and encompassed, by the invention will become more apparent from the specification and the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of thenovel skiing simulating device; 7

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof, partly in section;

F IG.3 is a cross'sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view partly broken away showing the parts in different position;

FIG. 5 is an end view ofa portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 being a cross-sectional view substantially simular to FIG. 3, and

FIG. 8 being an enlarged section taken substantially on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 1-6

The skiing simulatingdevice generally designated 1 comprises a base 2 having a plate 3 with channel runners 4 and 5 at its lateral edges in which roll rollers or wheels 6,6 and 7,7.

The rollers 6,6 and 7,7 are carried on stud axles 8,8 and 9,9 respectively and the stud axles are mounted on vertical flanges 10 and 11 of a platform 12 which has a horizontal top wall 13 which supports a bearing plate assembly 15 substantially medially between the side edges 16, 17 and end edges 18,19 of plate 13.

The bearing assembly or turntable 15 provides a vertical axis of pivot via a vertical center pin 20' thereof which interconnects the top and bottom plates 21 and 22 of the assembly and these plates provide peripheral bearing races at 23, 24 which confinethe ball bearing 25, 25 carried in acage 26. i i

The lower plate 22 may be secured as by welding or bolting to the top side26 of the top wall 13 of the platform. The top plate 21 diametrically supports a yieldablc leaf spring element 28 intermediate its ends. The element 28 may be secured to the plate 21 as by, welding or by suitable rivets, bolts, etc., and is adapted to rotate about the axis of the pin 20. V

The ends of the spring element 28 are formed with depending flanges 30 and 31 and are drilled at 32,33 to provide coaxial mounts for horizontal pivot pins 35,36 on which are pivoted at their lower apices 37,38 equilateral triangular movement-transferlevers or tilt members 39,40.

' The member 39 is pivoted at its other apices 41,42 respectively to one of the ends 43,44 of a pair of laterally spacedhorizontally positioned generally parallel rails of rods 45,46 and the apices 47,48 of the member 40 are respectively pivotally connected on horizontal axis to the otherends 50,51 of the rods 45,46.

The rods 45,46 slidably andtiltably mount intermediate their ends foot supports or pedals 52,53 at their inner edges 54,55.

The rod extends through coaxial bearings 56,57

provided in dependent end flanges 58,59 of pedal 52 and the rod 46 extends through coaxial bearings 56', 57 on depending end flanges 60,61 of the pedal 53.

Pedal 52has a top web 62' with an upturned foot rest or holding flanges 63,64 along its lateral edges and the pedal 53 has a top .web 65 with identical upturned foot rest or. holding flanges 66,67 along its lateral edgesto prevent the users. feet from laterally slipping off the pedals in the mannerof edging actual skis into the snow as seen in FIG. 5.

Pedal52 has a socket 68 attached to the underside of its top web 62 adjacent to one end thereof and at a side of its longitudinal axis remote from the shaft 45. The

socket holds a ball 70 and provides universal mounting or ball joint for the associated shoe or pedal. The ball 70 is formed at the upper end of a vertically disposed spindle or support 71 which at its lower end is fastened to the platform top wall 13. Similarly shoe or pedal 53 is provided with a socket 72 which rides about a ball 73 forming a ball joint therewith, the ball being on the upper end of a spindle 74 attached at its lower end to the top ofwall 13.

The shoes or pedals with the supporting mechanism are biased to centered position by compression springs 75,76 sleeved respectively on the shafts 45,46. Spring 75 is located between the bearing 56 and a transverse abutment pin 77 extending through shaft 45. Spring 76 is located between bearing 56' and a transverse abutment pin 78 in shaft 46.

Lateral displacement of the platform relative to the base is controlled to adjust the extent of turn by a swing arm 80 which is pivoted at one end as by a pin 81 on a vertical axis to the platform web 62, the arm having a longitudinal slot 82 which receives a length adjusting pivot bearing assembly generally designated 83 comprising a vertically disposed bolt 84 rotatably mounting a roller 85 at its upper end and having shouldered engagement at 86 with the top side 87 of the base plate 3, the lower end of the bolt being threaded vat 87 on which is threaded a wing nut 88 which is tightened against the underside 89 of the base plate 3 to secure the bearing assembly 83. The plate 3 has a transverse center slot 90 along which the bearing assembly 83 is positioned.

A depending guide bearing spindle 91 is mountedon the resilient support 28 'and extends into the slot 82 through an arcuate slot 92 in the plate 13 of the platform and the lower end of the spindle 91 is provided with a roller bearing 93 closely fitted between the side edges 94,95 of slot 82. It will be understood that to lengthen the turn the bearing assembly 83 is moved toward the end 96 of the bar or arm 80 Similarly, to shorten the turn the bearing assembly 83 is moved closer to the pivot 81.

The'operator in'using the device places his feet upon the pedals 52,53. Then to turn he first unweights himself by springing upwardly. This releases the brakes generally indicated 97,98. Brake 97 comprises a shank 99 threaded into a threaded aperture 100 in the spring bar 28 adjacent to one end thereof. An enlarged head is provided on the lower end of the shank and has a bottom flat surface 102 opposing the top side 26 of the plate 13. Similarly the brake 98 is threaded into the opposite end of the bar 28 and provides a flat bottom 103 opposing surface 26.

Upon the operator stepping on the pedals the spring bar 28 flexes so that the brake surfaces 102,103 engages the surface 26. if desired, surfaces 102,103 may be formed of material having a high coefficient of fric- I tion.

Upon unweighting and releasing the brakes, the user applies a turning force consisting of a heel push or twist. The uphill ski advances and the user laterally tilts his body as on skis and edges uphill.

1n the turning movement, the pedals turn about the fixed ball joints and slide on the rails. The downhill pedal compresses the related spring and the body movement of the user in turning shifts the platform laterally with respect to the base.

The platform is interlocked with the base by laterally extending flanges 105,106 underposed with respect to lips 107,108 on the base.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a modification which provides an adjustment for the spring bar by means of studs 130,131 threaded through opposite end portions of the bar and abuttable at their lower ends at 132,133 with an abutment plate or bar. 134 which may be connected to the top plate 21 of the turntable, the spring bar 28, being mounted on and connected with the upper race 21 of the turntable.

By retracting the screws 130,131 upwardly, the flexibility of the spring bar 28 is increased and by advancing the screws 130,131 the flexing decreases as the screws are spaced closer to the abutment bar 134.

. In addition to the adjustment of the flexibility of the spring bar to compensate for the weight of the user, the instant embodiment provides a variable braking rate with arcuate ramps 136,137 beneath the respective braking elements 97,98 the crest 138 of ramp 136 being in vertical alignment with brake 97 in the centered position of the foot rests and brake 98 is vertically aligned with the crest 139 of the upwardly convexed ramp 137.

Thus when the user steps on the foot pedals his weight will, depending upon the adjustment of the flexibility adjusting screws, engage the elements 97,98 with the ramps 136,137 respectively at their crests. As the pedals are turned the brakes gradually slide off the ramps and the braking effect fades away.

The user can unweight by two different methods;.

1. By jumping up (flexion recoil).

2. By rapid down motion (absorbing flexion).

It will be readily apparent that a novel simulator has been disclosed in several preferred embodiments. This is not to be considered in a limiting sense but only in the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A skiing simulator comprising a support structure, a pair of generally parallel side by side arranged foot pedals superposed thereon, resilient means comprising a single flexible element mounted for rotation about a vertical axis from said support structure, means for mounting said pedals along adjacent edges on said element for simulataneous vertical movements attendant to flexing of said element and turning movements with said element, and rigid universal mounting means on said support structure for each pedal adjacent to the remote edges thereof accommodating universal angling of said pedals.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and a brake surface on the support structure, and brake means on said element engageable with said brake surface upon deflection of said element toward said support structure due to bouncing movements of an operator supported on the pedals for resisting turning movements of said pedals.

3. The invention according to claim 2 and said brake surface being non planar and providing varying resistance during turning movements to simulate resistance to turning during actual skiing.

4. The invention according to claim'l and said means for mounting the pedals at their adjacent edges on said element comprising lever means at each end of the flexible element and pivoted intermediate its ends thereto, and means pivotally connecting the ends of each of said lever means to the respective pedals along their adjacent edges, said pedals being conjunctively tilted laterally through said lever means.

5. The invention according to claim 4 and said means connecting the adjacent ends of the pedals to said lever means comprising a pair of rods pivotally supporting respective pedals and having relative sliding movement therewith longitudinally thereof, and spring means reactively stressed between the pedals and respective rods for compression by the pedals during turning movements, said spring means effective for returning the pedals to centered position.

6. In a device according to claim 1, a horizontal base, means mounting the support structure from the base for lateral movement thereon, and adjustable means operatively connected between the base and support structure and said element for controlling the extent of sliding movement of said support structure.

7. The invention according to claim 6 and said adjustable means comprising an arm pivotally connected on a vertical axis adjacent to one end to the support structure, and on a vertical axis at selected points to said base and vertical pivot means on the flexible element having a slidable pivotal connection with said arm intermediate said one end thereof and any of said selected points of pivotal connection of the arm with the base. j l

8. In a skiing simulating device, a base means, platform means laterally movable thereon, foot support means rotatably mounted on the platform means for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, and linkage operably interconnecting said foot support means with said base means and with said platform means for effecting lateral movement of the platform means with respect to said base means in response to turning move ments of said foot support means.

9. The invention according to claim 8 and said foot support means comprising a support element and a pair of foot pedals, a pair of parallel rods extending lengthwise of the pedals and pivotally mounting the same adjacent to their inner edges for tilting movement and relative longitudinal movement with respect to the rods, means pivotally mounting said rods from said support element on an axis parallel to the rods to alternately elevate one rod and lower the other as the pedals are turned, means on the platform supporting each pedal adjacent to its outer edge from the platform and accommodating said tilting movement of the pedals and pivotal movement of the foot support means with attendant sliding movement of the foot pedals with respect to said rods, and spring means on each rod between the respective foot pedal and abutment means on the rods for biasing the foot pedals to a predetermined centered position.

10. The invention according to claim 8 and said foot support means being a vertically defleetible leaf spring member and means on said spring member engageable with said platform in consequence to an operator standing on the pedals and serving as means for braking turning movements of the foot support means.

ll. A skiing instruction device comprising a support structure, foot support means mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, said foot support means being flexible and resilient and deflectible toward and away with respect to the support structure under weighting and unweighting actions of an operator standing upon the foot support means as he simulated the actions of actual skiing during a turn, brake means mounted on said flexible foot support means, and a braking surface on the support structure engageable with said brake means as the operator descends and flexes the foot support means downwardly, said brake means being disengageable from the brake surface in the interval that the operator rises during making of the simulated turn.

12. In a skiing instruction device, a base, a non-rotative platform movable laterally thereon, a rotatable support assembly mounted on the platform forrotation about a vertical axis, a air of foot pedals, means partly mounting said foot pe als on said support assembly for rotation therewith and relative, sliding movement longitudinally thereof, other means partly mounting said foot pedals from said platform, said means mounting the foot pedals on said rotatable support assembly effecting rotation of the foot pedals with said assembly and in conjunction with said other means effecting slidable movement of the pedals relative to said rotata' ble assembly lengthwise of the pedals, and said means mounting said pedals from said platform accommodating rotation and canting movements of the respective foot pedal thereabout.

13. The invention according to claim 12 and lever means pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof to said rotatable assembly and at the ends thereof to respective pedals and operative to effect edging positioning of the pedals by elevating one pedal while simultaneously lowering the other pedal during turning movements of said pedals and rotatable assembly.

14. The invention according to claim 13 and common means for simultaneously controling the extent of lateral movement of said platform and rotation of said assembly and adjustable to increase and decrease the extent of lateral movement of the platform in proportion to extent of rotation of said assembly.

15. A skiing trainer comprising a base, a platform laterally movable thereon, a foot support assembly mounted for rotation about a vertical axis from said platform, means for effecting lateral movement of the platform pursuant to rotation of said foot support assembly comprising a horizontally swinging arm, pivot means affording a pivot along the length of the arm and the base, a pivotal connection between said arm and platform, and a pivot element on said foot assembly having a slidable pivotal connection with said arm between said pivot means and pivotal connection.

16. The invention according to claim 15 and said pivot means adjustably mounted on the base to lengthen or shorten the arm and thereby vary the extent of lateral movement of the platform with respect to the base. 

1. A skiing simulator comprising a support structure, a pair of generally parallel side by side arranged foot pedals superposed thereon, resilient means comprising a single flexiBle element mounted for rotation about a vertical axis from said support structure, means for mounting said pedals along adjacent edges on said element for simulataneous vertical movements attendant to flexing of said element and turning movements with said element, and rigid universal mounting means on said support structure for each pedal adjacent to the remote edges thereof accommodating universal angling of said pedals.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 and a brake surface on the support structure, and brake means on said element engageable with said brake surface upon deflection of said element toward said support structure due to bouncing movements of an operator supported on the pedals for resisting turning movements of said pedals.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 and said brake surface being non planar and providing varying resistance during turning movements to simulate resistance to turning during actual skiing.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 and said means for mounting the pedals at their adjacent edges on said element comprising lever means at each end of the flexible element and pivoted intermediate its ends thereto, and means pivotally connecting the ends of each of said lever means to the respective pedals along their adjacent edges, said pedals being conjunctively tilted laterally through said lever means.
 5. The invention according to claim 4 and said means connecting the adjacent ends of the pedals to said lever means comprising a pair of rods pivotally supporting respective pedals and having relative sliding movement therewith longitudinally thereof, and spring means reactively stressed between the pedals and respective rods for compression by the pedals during turning movements, said spring means effective for returning the pedals to centered position.
 6. In a device according to claim 1, a horizontal base, means mounting the support structure from the base for lateral movement thereon, and adjustable means operatively connected between the base and support structure and said element for controlling the extent of sliding movement of said support structure.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 and said adjustable means comprising an arm pivotally connected on a vertical axis adjacent to one end to the support structure, and on a vertical axis at selected points to said base and vertical pivot means on the flexible element having a slidable pivotal connection with said arm intermediate said one end thereof and any of said selected points of pivotal connection of the arm with the base.
 8. In a skiing simulating device, a base means, platform means laterally movable thereon, foot support means rotatably mounted on the platform means for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, and linkage operably interconnecting said foot support means with said base means and with said platform means for effecting lateral movement of the platform means with respect to said base means in response to turning movements of said foot support means.
 9. The invention according to claim 8 and said foot support means comprising a support element and a pair of foot pedals, a pair of parallel rods extending lengthwise of the pedals and pivotally mounting the same adjacent to their inner edges for tilting movement and relative longitudinal movement with respect to the rods, means pivotally mounting said rods from said support element on an axis parallel to the rods to alternately elevate one rod and lower the other as the pedals are turned, means on the platform supporting each pedal adjacent to its outer edge from the platform and accommodating said tilting movement of the pedals and pivotal movement of the foot support means with attendant sliding movement of the foot pedals with respect to said rods, and spring means on each rod between the respective foot pedal and abutment means on the rods for biasing the foot pedals to a predetermined centered position.
 10. The invention according to claim 8 and said foot support means being a vertically defleCtible leaf spring member and means on said spring member engageable with said platform in consequence to an operator standing on the pedals and serving as means for braking turning movements of the foot support means.
 11. A skiing instruction device comprising a support structure, foot support means mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, said foot support means being flexible and resilient and deflectible toward and away with respect to the support structure under weighting and unweighting actions of an operator standing upon the foot support means as he simulated the actions of actual skiing during a turn, brake means mounted on said flexible foot support means, and a braking surface on the support structure engageable with said brake means as the operator descends and flexes the foot support means downwardly, said brake means being disengageable from the brake surface in the interval that the operator rises during making of the simulated turn.
 12. In a skiing instruction device, a base, a non-rotative platform movable laterally thereon, a rotatable support assembly mounted on the platform for rotation about a vertical axis, a pair of foot pedals, means partly mounting said foot pedals on said support assembly for rotation therewith and relative sliding movement longitudinally thereof, other means partly mounting said foot pedals from said platform, said means mounting the foot pedals on said rotatable support assembly effecting rotation of the foot pedals with said assembly and in conjunction with said other means effecting slidable movement of the pedals relative to said rotatable assembly lengthwise of the pedals, and said means mounting said pedals from said platform accommodating rotation and canting movements of the respective foot pedal thereabout.
 13. The invention according to claim 12 and lever means pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof to said rotatable assembly and at the ends thereof to respective pedals and operative to effect edging positioning of the pedals by elevating one pedal while simultaneously lowering the other pedal during turning movements of said pedals and rotatable assembly.
 14. The invention according to claim 13 and common means for simultaneously controling the extent of lateral movement of said platform and rotation of said assembly and adjustable to increase and decrease the extent of lateral movement of the platform in proportion to extent of rotation of said assembly.
 15. A skiing trainer comprising a base, a platform laterally movable thereon, a foot support assembly mounted for rotation about a vertical axis from said platform, means for effecting lateral movement of the platform pursuant to rotation of said foot support assembly comprising a horizontally swinging arm, pivot means affording a pivot along the length of the arm and the base, a pivotal connection between said arm and platform, and a pivot element on said foot assembly having a slidable pivotal connection with said arm between said pivot means and pivotal connection.
 16. The invention according to claim 15 and said pivot means adjustably mounted on the base to lengthen or shorten the arm and thereby vary the extent of lateral movement of the platform with respect to the base. 